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If you've found yourself caring for someone in your family (or if you depend on your family for support), you're far from alone. As of 2025, there are 59 million people in the United States providing care for an adult family member — that's almost a quarter of all the adults in the country.
Though there are lots of other family caregivers to commiserate with, we understand if you feel like you're on your own. Caregiving is hard, especially when you have your own responsibilities to attend to: work, kids, chores or whatever else you might have on your plate.
So, when you're wrapped up in caring for your family, who will take care of you? There's absolutely nothing wrong with asking this question — your needs and well-being are important too, and the more support you get, the better support you'll provide in turn. We encourage you to learn about respite care services and why they're an essential part of the caregiving experience.
Respite services allow primary caregivers to take a break without leaving their family unattended. If you need some time for yourself to run errands, make an appointment, or just rest and recharge, professional care providers can fill in for you temporarily. They'll keep your care recipient company, help them with walking, eating, or using the bathroom, do some light housekeeping, and perform other basic caregiving duties.
Most family respite services are available for a few hours per visit, and though it's only a short-term solution, a little relief can go a long way. You can find respite providers in your region through organizations like ARCH National Respite Network or local Area Agencies on Aging, or you can see if the recipient's long-term care insurance plan can connect you with caregiving resources.
When caregivers are stressed and stretched too thin, it isn't good for them or their family. Care recipients are more likely to experience negative health events when their caregivers are overwhelmed, and there's a greater chance they'll transition to a long-term care facility or have to go back to the hospital (if they're currently recovering from a previous hospital stay).
People who become the primary caregiver for a family member (usually a parent or grandparent) usually do so out of a sense of obligation, and it's not uncommon for them to feel guilty about stepping away. If this sounds like you, please remember that you have needs too! Taking occasional breaks from caregiving isn't selfish — you and your family member will both be much better off overall.
We strongly encourage you to give respite care a try, but start small. Research providers in your area carefully, and when you find one you like, schedule a brief visit (no more than two hours) to see how it goes. Once you see how well a short-term helper can care for your family, you'll be more comfortable getting the me-time you need.
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